Washington, DC International Christian Church

“Hear, O Israel. You are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky…After the Lord your God has driven them out before, do not say to yourself, “The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you…” Deuteronomy 9: 1,4-6

Since our Inaugural Service on September 14, 2008, God has grown our 18 member mission team to 29 sold-out disciples!  This is truly a testimony to the power of God! We have studied with scores of people, many of them having a “form of godliness, but denying its power.” (2 Timothy 3:5)  It has been tedious work that requires great faith, especially because Washington, DC is home to hundreds of churches, all of whom are proclaiming their “version” of Christianity.  After a recent worship service, Patrique and I, along with another couple, Kenneth & Cheryl Chin, drove up 16th Street NW and were shocked at the number of large, extravagant church buildings, which represented scores of different denominations!  Early in Washington, DC’s history, many foreign countries located their embassies on 16th Street because of its proximity to the White House.  Many religious denominations followed suit by building churches on the street to serve symbolically as embassies, thus earning the street the nickname “Church Row.”  I must have counted at least 40 different churches on 16th Street alone!  Some of them were of the same denomination yet had no connection to one another!  This is in direct contradiction to 1 Corinthians 1:10, where the apostle Paul states, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” Denominationalism is accepted in Washington, DC as just another “religious freedom.”  However, this confusion and lack of wholeheartedness to the biblical standard saddens my heart and reminds me of the apostle Paul’s warning to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Read the rest of this entry »

“Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, ‘You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’” Joshua 14:6-8

Here we see an incredible chapter in an epic story.  Joshua and Caleb were two of the twelve spies sent by Moses to explore the Promised Land.  They found the land to be exceedingly good and yet 10 of the 12 most prominent leaders of the tribes of Israel, the vast majority, gave a faithless report.  They did not believe that God would bring them victory and therefore led the Israelite community into grumbling against their leader Moses, and thus God Himself (Numbers 14:2, 27, 36).

Though in the minority, I write this article for the honor of God and for the defense of my friend and brother, Kip McKean and the Sold-out Discipling Movement.  A few weeks ago, an article by Douglas Arthur featured on “ICOC (International Church of Christ) Hot News” brought up charges about Kip’s supposed slander, unwholesome talk and lack of repentance, which have led to a weakened church condition in Portland, Oregon.  I have watched the Portland situation develop during the past 12 months, and would like to offer a different perspective “according to my convictions.”  After all, “The first to present his case seems right until another comes forward and questions him.” (Proverbs 18:17)  The following questions must be answered in order to present an accurate and balanced account of the events that have taken place in Portland.
Read the rest of this entry »

“This is what the Lord says:  Stand at the cross road and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16

On Sunday, September 14, 2008, God worked powerfully as we celebrated the Inaugural Service for the Washington, DC International Christian Church!  Despite a triathlon that closed some of the city streets and a fire alarm that went off during service, we had 134 in attendance and four were added to our number!  Two placed membership - Conset Jefferson and Christian Carroll; one restoration - Herbert Johnson; and a University of DC student, Jeheifa Elliot, was baptized after studying for only six days!  To God Be the Glory!  Since arriving in late July, our 18-member mission team has grown to 24!  It was encouraging to see some of our dearly missed brothers and sisters from the Central NY Church of Christ and Chicago International Christian Church join us, as well as to see our brother Earl Jones, our first baptism in DC, return from his senior year at Cornell University to celebrate with us!  God is blessing the work at my former alma mater, as we also saw Hope Gbarayor, another Cornell senior, state that “Jesus is Lord” and be baptized!  How awesome to see God bless the faith of CNYCOC as they financially supported the mission team to DC, only for our first baptism to be sent back and help another to be baptized!  Most encouraging was to have my Dad, Karl Smellie, join us for service.  Despite the emotional heartache of burying my mother the previous Saturday, he traveled five hours on a bus from Long Island, NY to be with us.  He walked with me all day Saturday and watched as we shared our faith boldly throughout downtown DC.   After service on Sunday he commented in tears, “You’re doing something very special here.  I am very proud of you.”   I wept.
Read the rest of this entry »